Storage-tank



'1. M. HOP W-OOD.

STORAGE TANK.

APPLICATION HLED DEC-'8, I919.

15400347. Patented Dec. 20, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

FIEJ.

INVENTOR WITNESSES J. M. HOPWOOD.

STORAGE TANK.- APPLICATION men DEO.8- 1919.-

Patented Dec. 20, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

.FIBJEI INVENTOR WITNESSES JOHN M. HOPWDOE, OF HORMONE, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR T0 HAGAN CORPO- RATION, OF PITTSBURGH. PENNYSLVANIA, A CORPORATIGN OE PENNSYLVANIA.

STORAGE-TANK.

Application filed I-Zecember 8, 1919.

To all whom c't may concern:

Be it known that I, Jenn M. Horwoon, residing at Dormont, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, a citizen of the United States, have invented or discovered certain new and useful Improvements in StOrageTanks, of which improvements the following is a specification.

The invention described herein relates to certain improvements in tanks for disintegrated materials such as ashes, etc, and is especially adaptedfor use in pneumatic conveying systems and has for its object a construction and combination of means for facilitating the discharge of ashes or other material from the tanks.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 is the sectional elevation of a tank for ashes, etc, embodying the improvements contained herein. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the lifting head, and Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 illustrating certain modifications.

In the combination shown in Fig. l, the tank 1 which is usually made of metal, is provided at its upper end with an inlet opening over which is generally arranged a target box 2, and with a discharge opening at its lower end, the lower portions of the walls of the tank inclining inwardly and downwardly, as shown, to facilitate the movement of the ashes to the discharge opening, which will be normally closed by any suitable means as a swinging door 3.

It has been found that the clinker, ashes, etc, will become knit together and form an arch across the tank of sufiicient strength to sustain the weight of the material above. When tanks are provided with central discharge openings, as shown in Fig. 1, the material adjacent to the axis of the tank will move more rapidly than portions adjacent to the sides and the pressure on the center of the arch and the support given the edges by the slower moving or stationary portions at the sides of the tank, result in rendering the arch stronger and more ditlicult to dislodge with a poker or other means inserted through openings in the upper and lower ends of the tank.

The invention described herein has for its object the provision of means for imparting an upward movement of a core of the material in line with the discharge opening from the tank, thereby permitting a freer Specification of Letters Patent.

Serial No. 343,418.

movement of the material adjacent to the sides of the tank or around the core. This upward movement of the core will attack the arch at a point and in a direction leastcapable of resistance and the downward movement at the sides of the tank will destroy the peripheral support of the arch. Provision is also made for causing the core of material to move'laterally or toward the sides of the-tank in passing around the core support toward the discharge opening. It is characteristic of the improvement claimed herein that provision is made for facilitat ing the movement of those portions of the material, 2'. 6., the portions adjacent to the sides of the tank which serve as abutments for any arch formed in the tank and by the removal of such support the arch itself will be broken up. And further, by applying upward pressure to the central portion of the arch through the central core, the destruction of the arch is insured.

A convenient means for effecting the upward movement of a core of material in line with the discharge opening, consists of a cone shaped block at provided with a .plurality of radial wings 5 and means for moving the block away from the discharge opening. A. convenient meansfor moving the core consists of a rope or chain having one end connected to the. apex of the core and its opposite end connected to a drum 7 on a shaft mounted in suitable hearings in the sides of the tank. One end of the shaft pro" jects outside of the tank and on this projecting end is secured an operating handle 8. If desired a pawl and ratchet may be employed for maintaining the core in any desired position in the tank.

Normally, the points of the wings will rest on the inclined surfaces of the tank adjacent to the discharge opening. When the cone is raised the projecting wings will loosen up the material adjacent to the discharge openin so that it will flow freely from the tank.

dhe flow or movement of the portions of the material forming the peripheral support for arching may be promoted by forming the tank with outwardly flaring or inclined walls as shown in Fig. 2. In such construction the bottom 9 of the tank would be formed preferably at an angle substantially greater than the angle of repose of the material to be stored in the tank and would extend entirely across the tank to the dis- -which will prevent charge spout 10. As there may at times he a clogging or retardation of flow of a ma terial where the walls incline inwardly, to direct the material toward the discharge opening, it is preferred to provide holes 11 checking or retarding the movement of the central core so that on opening the outlet the outer portions will be free to flow under the supported central core. This acceleration of the flow of the outer portions of the charge will be further promoted by the flaring or outward inclination of the side walls of the tank as shown in Fig. 2. In other words, the more rapid flow of the outer portions is due to the retardation or prevention to a greater or less degree of the movement of the inner central portion, while by flaring the walls of the tank the outer portions are" free toloosen up and in consequence of such loosening up will flow more rapidly toward the central portions. Hence it is preferred to use both means, one acting cumulatively on the other.

I claim herein as my invention:

1. A tank for ashes, etc., provided with an outlet at its lower end in combination with a door for such outlet, means arranged within the tank and adapted to so control the movement of the material through the tank that the flow of material adjacent to the wall of the tank will be more rapid than the inner or central portions of the mass contained in the tank and means for raising and lowering the retarding means.

2. A tank for ashes,- etc, provided with an outlet at its lower end in combination with a door for such outlet, means independent of the door for retarding the movement of a core of material toward the outlet opening, means for raising and lowering the retarding means.

A tank for ashes, etc, provided with an outlet at'its lowerend, and having downward y inclined sides in combination with a door 101 such outlet, means independent of the door for retarding the movement of a core of material toward the outlet opening,

means for raising and lowering the retard ing means.

A tank for ashes, etc, provided with an outlet at its lower end in combination with a door for such outlet, means independent of the door for lifting a core of material to permit a free movement of material outside of the core toward the outlet opening and means for raising and lowering the core lifting means.

5. A tank with a door for such outlet, and a conical block and means for moving said block'upwardly whereby the material above the outlet is loosened to facilitate its movement from the tank. V

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

' JOHN M. HOPWOOD.

for ashes, etc, provided with an outlet at its lower end 1n combination- 

